DAY OF RECKONING: Obama Officials to Face SENATE GRILLING over Russia

The Senate Intelligence Committee is gearing up for a highly-anticipated showdown with former Obama officials Wednesday; preparing to grill top aides over allegations of Russian election interference in the 2016 race for the White House.

According to Fox News, the Committee is expected to interview former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA director John Brennan, former NSA Director Michael Rogers, and possibly former FBI director James Comey.

Those close to the panel say Comey “plans to skip” Wednesday’s behind-closed-doors discussions due to a “previously scheduled engagement.”

The Committee, led by Sen. Richard Burr and Sen. Mark Warner, hope to “wrap up” their investigation by the end of the summer.

“This gives staff the month of August in all likelihood to wrap up our investigation and for staff to work intensely while we’re out of here and not getting in their hair,” said Sen. Burr.

Comey, though, plans to skip the closed-door session Wednesday due to a “previously scheduled engagement,” his attorney said.

“This gives staff the month of August in all likelihood to wrap up our investigation and for staff to work intensely while we’re out of here and not getting in their hair.”

– Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.

Comey, who was fired last May, has been on a media blitz in recent weeks promoting his memoir, “A Higher Loyalty,” in which he is highly critical of now-President Trump.

Burr and Warner, who are leading the panel in investigating Russian meddling and coordination with Trump campaign associates in the 2016 presidential election, hope to wrap up their probe by the end of summer.

“This gives staff the month of August in all likelihood to wrap up our investigation and for staff to work intensely while we’re out of here and not getting in their hair,” Burr told reporters last week, referring to Senate members being on summer recess.

The U.S. intelligence community assessment titled “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections,” was released just two weeks before Trump’s inauguration in January 2017—the heat of the transition between the administration of former President Barack Obama and the new Trump administration.